How to Play Kent

Setting Up the Game

Round up four players. Kent is a game that can be played with multiple players. It is also played in pairs. Typically, there are four players (two teams), but you can play the game with up to 12 players (six teams).

Use one deck of regular playing cards. If you are playing with four to eight players, use one deck of cards. If there are more than eight players, then use two decks.

Divide into teams. You can either pick teams randomly by drawing cards, or you can have the players choose who they want to team up with. To pick teams at random, have four players draw a card from the deck at a time. The players who draw the same colored card (either black or red) will be on the same team. Repeat this until everyone has a team.

Gather with your teammate in a private area. Once everyone is in a team, each team will need to come up with a secret signal privately. Go in another room, retreat to a corner, go outside, or go behind a large object to discuss your team's signal. Just make sure the other teams do not hear you and your partner.

Come up with a secret signal. The signal is used to indicate when one of the team members has four of a kind. The signal can be a gesture, body movement, or hand signal. However, verbal signals are not allowed. Fanning your cards out wider than usual, holding your cards in your left or right hand, looking at your watch, adjusting your glasses, winking three times, or laying your cards face down are all examples of signals that you and your teammate can use.

Use multiple signals. You and your teammate are allowed to have multiple signals. You can even have fake signals to confuse the other teams. However, you cannot have signals that indicate the status of your cards if you do not have four of a kind. This is considered “table talk” and it is cheating. This is an optional strategy, but it is a great way to throw the other teams off.

Sit across from your teammate. Once the teams come back together after discussing their signals, have everyone sit in a circle. Teammates need to sit across from each other. They are not allowed to sit next to each other.

Dealing the Cards

Pick a dealer. You can either pick a dealer at random, or have someone volunteer. To pick a dealer at random, have everyone draw a card from the deck. Have the person who draws the highest (or lowest) card be the dealer. If there is a tie between two players, then have them pick another card from the deck. The person with the highest (or lowest) card wins.

Shuffle the cards. Make sure the dealer shuffles the cards at least twice. They can do an overhand shuffle by cutting the deck multiple times. Alternatively, a riffle shuffle can be used to shuffle the deck.

Distribute four cards to each player. If you are the dealer, then distribute the cards counterclockwise. Either give each player four cards at a time, or give each player one card until all of the players have four cards.

Lay the board cards down. Once everyone has their cards, pick four cards from the top of the deck and lay them face down (if you are the dealer). These cards are referred to as “the board.”

Place the deck in front of the person sitting to your right. This person will be the dealer the next time around. This way, no one person is overwhelmed by having to deal every time. The deck is also referred to as the stock.

Playing the Game

Flip the board. If you are the dealer, then say, “3…2…1…Go!” and flip over the board cards. The board cards should be facing up at this point. This way everyone can see them.

Grab a card. As soon as all of the cards are flipped over, each player grabs a card. Players do no take turns grabbing cards; everyone grabs at once. Remember, your goal is to get four of a kind. So make sure to grab a card that matches at least one of the cards in your hand. If two players grab for the same card, the player who touched the card first gets the card.

Discard one or more cards. Since you cannot have more than four cards in your hand at one time, you need to discard as soon as you grab a card from the board. If you happen to grab two cards, then you need to discard two cards. This continues until no one wants any cards from the board.

Refresh the board. The new dealer, i.e., the player with the deck in front of them, removes the unwanted board cards and places them in a separate discard pile. The dealer selects four more cards from the top of the deck and places them face down again to make a new board. They countdown and flip the cards over again. This process repeats itself until someone calls “Kent,” or the deck runs out.

Calling Kent

Display the signal. Once you have four of a kind, discretely display your team’s secret signal. Try to do the signal when none of the other players are watching. To avoid being called out, try not to do the signal too many times in a row either.

Yell “Kent!” Do this as soon as you see your teammate doing the signal. Make sure to watch your teammate throughout the game so you don’t miss the signal. Once you call “Kent,” all the players reveal their cards. Only you need to call out "Kent" if you see your teammate displaying the signal.

Write down the letter K underneath your team's name. If your teammate has four of a kind, then your team gets a letter, in this case K. On a piece of paper, write down all of the teams' names; for example, "Team A," "Team B," and so on. Under your team's name, write the letter K. If your teammate does not have four of a kind, then your team loses and does not get a letter. To make the game more challenging, the team who calls out “Kent” when they do not have four of a kind loses a letter.

Say “No Kent!" If you suspect that another player is trying to signal their teammate, then yell, “No Kent!” At this point everyone shows their cards. If you were right, then your team wins and you get a letter. However, if you were wrong, then your team loses and you lose a letter. Alternatively, you can say "Cut" or "Stop" if you suspect that another team has "Kent."

Call "Real deal!" Real deal happens when the deck runs out and no team called “Kent!” or “No Kent!” At this point, the game is a draw and no one gets any points.

Win the game by spelling out "Kent." The team to spell out the word "Kent" first wins the whole game. To increase your chances of winning the game, try to learn the other teams' signals. This way, you can call out "No Kent" to prevent them from getting a letter. If you suspect that the other team knows your team's secret signal, then re-group with your teammate after the round finishes to come up with a new signal.